New proicesses

November 2015

PEREGRINE NEWS
This month we have added 4 new immigration processes to Immiguru: two each to Spain
and Portugal.
Immiguru now contains 1200 immigration processes to more than 90 destination countries,
which our 200+ partners help us to keep up-to-date to reflect changes to rules and
procedures around the world.
We also added some useful fee and invoicing enhancements to Immigo, our global
immigration case management software.
Finally, we are pleased to announce that we are organising the first ever EuRA Immigration
Symposium, on Tuesday 19 April 2016 in Malta. In association with the EuRA International
Relocation Conference, this is a unique opportunity for immigration specialists from all over
the world to share ideas, knowledge and best practice in the constantly changing
immigration industry. We hope to see you there!

Table of Contents
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES RESIDENTS OF GCC COUNTRIES NOW REQUIRE E-VISA TO ENTER UAE
2
GERMANY NEW RESIDENCY REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
2
ITALY CHANGES TO INTEGRATION AGREEMENT RULES
4
SWITZERLAND QUOTAS FOR WORK PERMITS IN 2016 ANNOUNCED
4
SINGAPORE SOFTWARE INSTALLATION NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR WORK PASS EXEMPTION
5
AUSTRALIA CHANGES TO IMMIGRATION HEALTH POLICY
6
ARGENTINA REGISTERED PARTNERS CAN NOW OBTAIN DEPENDENT IMMIGRATION STATUS
7
IRELAND NEW ONLINE BOOKING SYSTEM FOR RE-ENTRY VISAS AT DUBLIN IMMIGRATION OFFICE
7
TURKEY SIGNIFICANT DELAYS TO RESIDENCE PERMIT APPLICATION APPOINTMENTS; AND NEW LIMITS FOR STAYS
ABROAD FOR RESIDENCE PERMIT HOLDERS
8
ITALY NEW BIOMETRIC RESIDENCE PERMIT
9
RUSSIA EMPLOYMENT BAN AND VISA RESTRICTIONS FOR TURKISH NATIONALS
9
MORE FROM PEREGRINE
10

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VAT registration number: 111 7916 32
Peregrine Immigration Management Ltd, Registered in England and Wales: 7569415

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Residents of GCC Countries
Now Require E-visa to
Enter UAE
Effective immediately, foreign nationals with
residency visas from Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) countries are required to apply for an evisa before travelling to the United Arab
Emirates (UAE).
This regulation came into effect in May 2015,
but has only recently been enforced by the
immigration authorities in the UAE. Failure to
obtain the e-visa before traveling to the UAE
may lead to rejection at the border
immigration counter.

What is different?
Previously, an entry permit/visit visa to the
UAE was applied for at the UAE mission
overseas or was received upon arrival. The
possibility for online visa applications is
intended to facilitate travel for those foreign
nationals already resident in the region.

Who is Affected?
Foreign nationals with long term residence
visas (or family members of holders of
residence visas) issued by Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait,
Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia) and seeking
to enter the UAE for a business or tourist visit.

Once the visa is approved by the Ministry of

Interior, a copy will be sent to the applicant by
email. The issued visa can be used within 60
days to enter the country. Upon entry, the
applicant can stay 30 days in the UAE. The visa
is allows a single entry, and is extendable once
for 30 days.

Red Flags
Applications for family members of
GCC residents will not be approved if
the sponsor is not traveling along with
the family members;
Family members are entitled to a 60
day visa, which is extendable once for
60 days;
If the profession of the GCC resident is
found to be changed after issuance of
the e-visa, the e-visa holder will not
be granted entry;
The applicants GCC residency must
be valid for at least three months
beyond the arrival date in the UAE;
The applicants passport must be valid
for at least six months beyond the
arrival date in the UAE.

Action Items
GCC residents travelling to the UAE
should obtain the e-visa before
travelling, and ensure their GCC
residency and passport have sufficient
validity.

How Does The E-visa Work?

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has launched a
new online service for e-visa applications,
including online payments. Note that this is
different from the website used for e-visas for
GCC residents since the regulation was
introduced in May.

GERMANY New
Residency Registration
Procedure
Effective 1 November 2015, a new,
nationwide registration and deregistration law

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requires all residents in Germany, including

foreign nationals, to obtain written
confirmation of their moving-in or moving-out
date (a document called
Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung) from their
landlord or the management of their hotel or
serviced apartment.

What has Changed?

Documents
A Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung, stating
exact moving-in or moving-out dates, is now
required in support of both the registration
and the deregistration process, along with the
original lease, hotel or rental contract. The
lease dates stated in the lease contract are no
longer relevant for registration or
deregistration.
Time limits
Anyone living in Germany must now register
with their local municipal authorities within
14 days of moving in or out of an address in
the region. This deadline has been extended
from seven days.
The landlord or hotel manager must provide
the Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung within 14
days of letting the accommodation, to allow
the resident to register or deregister in time.
Penalties
The penalties for infringement of these new
regulations are more specific and significant
than previously:
If the resident does not register their
new address within the time limit, or
if the landlord does not issue the
confirmation in time, then both
parties can be fined up to 1000 euros
each.
It is illegal to offer or provide a
residency address to a person who
neither moves into this home nor

intends to. Violation of this regulation

is a regulatory offence and can lead to
a fine of up to 50,000 euros.
If the landlord or his representative
refuses to provide the relevant
confirmation or if the person obliged
to register does not receive the
required confirmation in time for
other reasons, then the person
obliged to register must notify the
registration authority immediately.

Red Flags
It is expected to be especially difficult
to obtain the
Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung from
hotels, which may make registration
with a temporary address impossible
in the future.
Each city in Germany has its own
version of the
Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung, which
is the only valid version for
registrations and deregistrations in
that city.

Action Items
Allow for expected delays in the
registration process due to the new
requirement to obtain a
Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung from
the landlord or hotel manager;
Allow for subsequent down-stream
delays in applications for tax ID and
the electronic work permit, which
require proof of registration;
Allow extra time to obtain the
Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung from a
hotel.

peregrine: GLOBAL IMMIGRATION MADE SIMPLE

VAT registration number: 111 7916 32
Peregrine Immigration Management Ltd, Registered in England and Wales: 7569415

ITALY Changes to
Integration Agreement
Rules

SWITZERLAND Quotas for

Work Permits in 2016
Announced

According to a circular letter dated 30

September, a non-EU national residence
permit holder may, at the discretion of the
authorities, be allowed to renew their permit
even if they have not fulfilled their
integration agreement.

The Swiss government has announced the

quotas for highly qualified workers from nonEuropean Union/European Free Trade
Agreement countries, as well as for assignees
from EU/EFTA countries. The quotas
announced are the same as those for 2015.

Moreover, a foreign national previously

legally residing in Italy, who signed an
integration agreement as part of an
immigration application, will not be required
to execute a further agreement in case of a
new immigration application for Italy.

Which Work Permits are affected?

What is the Integration Agreement?

Since March 2012, a non-EU national residing
in Italy for a period of more than one year
must sign an integration agreement with the
immigration authorities. They then have a
maximum period of three years in which to
earn at least 30 points in tests of their Italian
language skills and knowledge of Italian
society.

Action Items
Note this clarification of the
integration agreement rules, which
should ease permit renewals.

The quotas are imposed on a national, rather

than per-company, basis, on B permits, which
are long term residence permits, valid for up
to five years, and renewable. Once the B
permit quotas are reached, applicants are
issued with L permits instead valid for up to
12 months and convertible into a B permit
after two years.

2016 Quotas for Non-EU/EFTA

Nationals
In 2016 companies in Switzerland can recruit
foreign national specialists from non-EU/EFTA
countries up to the following national quotas:
4000 L permits;
2500 B permits.
As in previous years, half of the quota will be
allocated to the cantons, with the other half
kept as a Federal Reserve.

2016 Quotas for EU/EFTA National

Assignees
The quotas for assignees from EU/EFTA
countries to Switzerland for more than 90 and
for more than 120 days have also remained
the same as for 2015:
2000 L permits;

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 250 B permits.
These quotas will be allocated to the cantons
on a quarterly basis, as before.

Action Items
Note the quotas for 2016 and expect
a continuation of the strict qualifying
criteria seen in 2015;
Plan, as always, to submit work
permit applications in good time to
avoid issues.

SINGAPORE Software
Installation No Longer
Eligible for Work Pass
Exemption
Singapores Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has
recently removed software installation from
its list of activities eligible for a short-term
work pass exemption.
MOM has also updated its requirements for
the Seminars and Conferences category of
eligible activities, clarifying that work must
not have sale or promotion of goods or
services as its main purpose. Sale of goods or
services is, however, allowed under the
Exhibitions category.
Another new rule states that the exemption is
valid for a cumulative total of 90 days in a
calendar year.

What is the work pass exemption?

Certain short-term work activities in
Singapore may be performed without a work
pass for the duration of the individual's Short
Term Visit Pass or 60 days, whichever is
shorter. In addition, the exemption is valid for
a cumulative total of 90 days in a calendar

year (e.g. 3 stints of 30 days). A work pass is

therefore required for any work longer than
90 days in a calendar year.
Qualifying applicants must submit a postarrival e-notification application to inform the
Ministry of Manpower (MOM) before
engaging in Work Pass exempt activities.
Eligible activities include providing expertise
or specialised skills for commissioning or
auditing new plant and equipment, or
installing, dismantling, transferring, repairing,
or maintaining any equipment or machine.
The expertise or specialised skills should be of
a kind that is not available in Singapore, or
that is to be provided by the authorised
service personnel of the manufacturer or
supplier of the equipment.
Other work pass exempt activities include
arbitration or mediation services, exhibiting,
journalism, junket activities, location filming
and fashion shows, performances, organising
or conducting seminars and conferences,
sports and tour facilitation.

When is a work-pass exemption

notification not required?
It is not necessary to notify MOM to
participate in the following activities for the
duration of a short-term visit pass:
Attending company meetings,
corporate retreats or meetings with
business partners;
Attending study tours or visits,
training courses, workshops, seminars
and conferences as a participant;
Attending exhibitions as a trade
visitor.
Note that on-the-job training always requires
a work pass.

peregrine: GLOBAL IMMIGRATION MADE SIMPLE

VAT registration number: 111 7916 32
Peregrine Immigration Management Ltd, Registered in England and Wales: 7569415

Action Items
Ensure that engineers travelling to
Singapore for software installation
obtain a work pass, even for jobs of
less than 60 days duration.
Business travellers to Singapore for
sales or promotional work for up to
60 days should submit the required enotification for the exemption under
the "Exhibitions" category, rather
than the "Seminars and Conferences"
category.
Ensure that a work pass is obtained
for work of longer than 90 days in a
calendar year.

AUSTRALIA Changes to
Immigration Health Policy
Effective 20 November 2015, a new health
policy will apply to applicants for Australian
visas.

What has changed?

Under the new policy, an individuals
country of origin will have one of only
two risk levels (requiring health
examinations or not) rather than one
of the three categories (high, medium
and low risk) in use until now.
For nationals and recent residents of
higher-risk countries, the duration of
stay from which a medical assessment
is required has been raised from three
months to six months.
Under the new policy, applicants for
Subclass 457 visas will be treated the
same as other temporary visa
applicants. Previously they only had
to undergo a chest x-ray examination,
and were exempted from the general

medical examination requirement for

stays of over 12 months.

Countries that do not generally

require Immigration Health
Examinations
Applicants from countries of lower risk who
are applying for temporary visas will generally
not be required to undertake health
examinations. Permanent stay applications
will, however, require various health
examinations.

Countries that do require

Immigration Health Examinations
Stays of under six months
No medical assessments will be required for
individuals who are applying for a temporary
visa and intend to remain in Australia for less
than six months, even if they are a national of
a higher risk country, or have spent three or
more consecutive months during the last five
years in a higher risk country.
Stays of six months or over
Nationals or recent residents of higher risk
countries will be required to undergo a
medical examination and a chest x-ray If they
are applying for a temporary visa but
intending to remain in Australia for six months
or longer.

Other requirements
TB testing for children
Under the new policy, children under 11 years
of age who are applying for a temporary visa
and declare close family contact with TB in
their visa application or My Health
Declarations form will have to undergo TB
testing (TST or IGRA).
Previously this was not a requirement.

peregrine: GLOBAL IMMIGRATION MADE SIMPLE

VAT registration number: 111 7916 32
Peregrine Immigration Management Ltd, Registered in England and Wales: 7569415

Additional health examinations

Additional health examinations will be
required in instances where the special
significance rule applies. This rule applies to
individuals from any country who are
intending to work as a doctor, dentist, nurse
or paramedic, likely to work at an Australian
Childcare centre, likely to enter a health care
or hospital environment, are pregnant and
intending to have their baby in Australia, or
are aged 75 years and older.
From 20 November, special significance no
longer applies to individuals who have applied
for a student visa and/or are likely to be in a
classroom situation for more than three
months.
Provisional or permanent visas
The current health requirements will continue
to apply to all individuals who are applying for
provisional and permanent visas with the
exception of the introduction of a new TB
screening test (TST or IGRA) requirement for
children aged between 2 and 10 years from
countries of higher risk.

Action Items
Check the list of low-risk countries in
Schedule 1 here to determine
whether applicants for Australian
temporary visas will require a medical
assessment.
Note that the new policy will apply to
applicants who applied before 20
November 2015, but who havent yet
commenced their medical
examinations.

ARGENTINA Registered
Partners Can Now Obtain
Dependent Immigration
Status
Effective 13 October 2015, Argentina has
expanded the eligibility criteria for dependent
immigration status to include registered
partners (including same-sex partners).
An order published on 1 October 2015 allows
any partner duly registered as such to apply
for dependent immigration status. The
Argentinian immigration office has not yet
processed dependent visas for partners
registered abroad, so it remains to be seen
how this will work in practice.

Action Items
Ensure that unmarried partners are
duly registered if they intend to apply
for dependent immigration status.
Expect further clarification on
registration requirements for
registrations that took place abroad.

IRELAND New Online

Booking System for Reentry Visas at Dublin
Immigration Office
Effective 16 November 2015, the Irish
Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS)
has introduced an online booking system for
appointments for Multiple-Entry Visa
applications at the Garda National
Immigration Bureau (GNIB) office in Burgh
Quay, Dublin.

How does it work?

Further to the new queuing arrangements

peregrine: GLOBAL IMMIGRATION MADE SIMPLE

VAT registration number: 111 7916 32
Peregrine Immigration Management Ltd, Registered in England and Wales: 7569415

introduced in September (see here), the new

booking system aims to reduce the number of
people queuing at the GNIB office in Burgh
Quay.
To book an appointment, the applicant will
need a copy of the stamp received at the port
of entry in Ireland, and their GNIB number.
The GNIB number is normally issued with the
applicants GNIB card, but may be given at the
port of entry on arrival.
There is no requirement to attend the
appointment in person, and an authorised
representative may attend in place of the
applicant.
This process does not affect re-entry visa
applications submitted by post.

Action Items
Use the new system to book
appointments at the GNIB office in
Dublin for re-entry visa applications.

TURKEY Significant Delays

to Residence Permit
Application Appointments;
and New Limits for Stays
Abroad for Residence
Permit Holders
The online system for booking appointments
for first-time residence permit applications in
Turkey is currently issuing appointments up to
90 days after the booking date, putting
applicants legal immigration status in Turkey
at risk.
In addition, a law which entered into force in
May 2014, regulating the length of stays
abroad for foreign national residence permit
holders, has recently begun to be enforced.

person, the appointment date must be set for

after the applicants arrival in Turkey.
Applications for residence permit renewals do
not require the applicant to attend in person,
and therefore an appointment is not required.

Stays Abroad
Law no. 6458 (On Foreigners and
International Protection), which entered into
force on 1 May 2014, regulates the amount of
time a foreign national residence permit
holder may stay outside Turkey without their
resident permit being cancelled.
A short-term residence permit may be
cancelled or not renewed if the holder stays
more than 120 days outside Turkey during the
permits validity period.
A family residence permit may be cancelled or
not renewed if the holder stays more than
180 days outside Turkey during the permits
validity period.
These rules have not been enforced until now.
However, in early November 2015, at least
one case for renewal of a short-term
residence permit was rejected for infringing
these rules.

Action Items
Ensure that foreign nationals
travelling to Turkey on a tourist visa
but intending to obtain a residence
permit to extend their stay book an
appointment for the residence permit
application as early as possible, to
avoid problems.
Ensure that resident permit holders
do not spend more than the
maximum length of time outside
Turkey during the permits validity
period.

Delays
Appointments for initial residence permit
applications can be booked online before the
applicants arrival in Turkey, but as the
applicant must attend the appointment in

peregrine: GLOBAL IMMIGRATION MADE SIMPLE

VAT registration number: 111 7916 32
Peregrine Immigration Management Ltd, Registered in England and Wales: 7569415

ITALY New Biometric

Residence Permit
Effective 10 November 2015, new electronic
residence permits are being issued, which
contain a chip to store the holders biometric
data. The new cards meet European Council
(EC) regulation 380/2008.

Who is affected?
For residence permit applications
submitted before 10 November 2015,
the permit will be issued in the
previous non-electronic format.
For applications submitted on or after
10 November 2015, applicants will
receive the new biometric residence
permit.
Existing residence permits remain
valid, and the holder does not need to
take any action. Upon renewal, the
new-style electronic permit will be
issued.

Changes to application procedure

The Florence Immigration Police department
has issued an official communication detailing
the changes to the application procedures for
residence permits. It is expected that these
new procedures will soon apply throughout
Italy:
All applicants will receive an individual
residence card, regardless of their age
(including those under 14 years of
age). For minors, the card will be
conveniently connected to the
mothers permit.
Fingerprints are now required from all
children aged six and above.
The presence of minor children is now
required both at the biometric
appointment and at the resident
permit collection appointment.

Action Items
Applicants should follow the
procedures laid down by the Florence
Immigration Police, unless their local
Immigration Police department
advises otherwise.

RUSSIA Employment Ban

and Visa Restrictions for
Turkish Nationals
Due to the current political situation,
employers in Russia will not be able to obtain
work permits for Turkish nationals from 1
January 2016. Also from 1 January, Turkish
nationals will no longer be able to enter
Russia without a visa.

Employment Ban
Presidential Order No. 583 of 28 November
2015 introduces a package of sanctions
against Turkey, including the ban on
employment of Turkish nationals in Russia.
The ban will not extend to Turkish nationals
currently employed in Russia. However, it is
not yet clear whether employers will be able
to file for work permit extensions for these
existing work permit holders.

Visa Restrictions
The presidential order also suspends the
bilateral agreement between Turkey and
Russia from 12 May 2010 on the simplification
of visa requirements. This means that, from 1
January 2016, Turkish nationals will not be
able to enter Russia for tourism or business
without a visa, except for diplomats and
residence permit holders.

Action Items
Any plans to send Turkish nationals to
Russia for work will need to be
reconsidered in light of these
sanctions.

peregrine: GLOBAL IMMIGRATION MADE SIMPLE

VAT registration number: 111 7916 32
Peregrine Immigration Management Ltd, Registered in England and Wales: 7569415

 The status of Turkish national work

permit holders in Russia should be
monitored closely, especially when
their work permits expire.
Any Turkish national intending to
enter Russia must obtain an
appropriate visa before travel.

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DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this immigration newsletter has been
abridged from laws, court decisions, and administrative rulings and should not be
construed or relied upon as legal advice. If you have specific questions regarding the
applicability of this information, please contact Peregrine 2015 Peregrine
Immigration Management Ltd.

peregrine: GLOBAL IMMIGRATION MADE SIMPLE

VAT registration number: 111 7916 32
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